Frequently Asked Questions

Carpet Cleaning, Carpet Stretching and Repair, and Upholstery Cleaning Questions Answered

Carpet Cleaning Questions

How often should I get my carpets cleaned?

Residential carpet cleaning frequency should be once a year unless there is particularly heavy traffic or pet presence. This helps prevent the carpet from prematurely wearing out. It also maintains your warranty on newly installed carpet. 

Why should I hire a professional instead of doing it myself?

Rented carpet cleaning machines cannot compare even to our portable machines, let alone our super powerful truck mounts. Hot water, high pressure, agitation and strong vacuum are important factors. These all come into play when it comes to getting your carpet cleaned. Rental machines provide none of these characteristics. That is why it is so important to hire a professional carpet cleaning company when you want real, long-lasting results. DIY Carpet cleaning is just simply inferior.

How long does my carpet take to dry?

With our top of the line, commercial grade truck mounted steam cleaner machines, we can put down more water but still use its superior vacuum strength to pull out more water than our competitors. This means that in many cases, carpets are already starting to feel dry by the time we leave. Normally the carpet is dry within 4-8 hours or less. Read more about how long does it take for carpets to dry and tips to speed up the drying process.

Do you clean area rugs?

We clean area rugs of all kinds. From synthetic rugs (nylon, polyester, olefin, triexta etc.) to Oriental rugs, Persian rugs, Navajo rugs and more.

Should I move furniture prior to my carpet cleaning?

We ask that you move small items off the floor before we arrive. We can help move tables, chairs, and other movable items. However, we won’t move beds, pianos, dressers or other large items, but we will clean around them.

How long do I have to wait after cleaning to let my children or pets on the carpet?.

Activity on the carpet should be limited while drying but it may be walked upon with clean feet, clean socks or clean shoes while wet.

Do I need to be home while my carpet is being cleaned?

It is not necessary that you be home while your carpet is cleaned. We employ thoroughly trained professionals whom you can trust. In order to provide the best possible service, we recommend that someone is home before we begin cleaning to discuss any specific areas of concern regarding the care and cleaning of your carpet.

Should I vacuum before my scheduled service?

No need to vacuum since we’ll do that for you. We include pre-vacuuming with a commercial vacuum cleaner as part of our standard service since it’s important to remove loose soils, pet hair or other things from the carpet before we begin the hot water extraction (steam cleaning) phase of the cleaning.

Can you clean area rugs? How about Oriental rugs, wool rugs, or other fine rugs?

The short answer is that we can clean any kind of rug. The longer answer is that the method we use to clean the rug varies depending on the type of area rug. Synthetic rugs can usually be cleaned in your home or office as long as you have a safe surface (not hardwood) to clean it on. Wool rugs either need to be cleaned at our shop or offsite. Fine rugs or Oriental rugs usually will need to be cleaned at a full-service rug plant. Silk, rayon, wool, cotton and sisal are the usual suspects that require a full rug plant service. This is due to their delicate nature and propensity to bleed or yellow/brown with traditional cleaning methods.

How long should I wait to remove carpet tabs/blocks on furniture?

To ensure the carpet and pad are completely dry, we recommend waiting 24 hours before removing carpet tabs or blocks.

What is the difference between a “steam cleaner” and “hot water extraction”?

Technically, nothing. Both steam cleaning and hot water extraction describe the same process. Hot water extraction is the technical term for a process where very hot water and solution is applied to a carpet and then extracted. While steam comes from the temperature of the hot water used during a “steam cleaner” process.

Turning machines to full heat (as you often see on youtube videos) can actually melt or damage carpet backing or fibers due to too much heat. Our skilled carpet cleaning technicians know how to strike the right balance between enough heat and too much (damaging) heat.

What types of carpet do you clean?

We can clean nearly any kind of carpet. From synthetic fibers like Polyester, Nylon, Acrylic, Olefin, Triexta to organic fibers like Rayon, Silk or Wool.

What are some of the common stains that you are able to treat?

In general, we can remove almost every kind of stain. There are a few exceptions such as construction adhesive, traffic patterns or heavily worn areas (which aren’t actually stains, they are worn out, physically damaged carpet), certain red and yellow dyes and a handful of other things. When we encounter something that cannot be removed, replacing that section of carpet or patching the carpet is always an option and is a service we are skilled at providing.

Why does a carpet stain keep coming back?

Carpet stains can sometimes come back after they appear to be gone due to a number of reasons. Most of the time the stain reappears due to the amount of stain causing solution still left in the carpet pad. As the carpet dries, the stain causing solution wicks back up the carpet fibers and suddenly there is the stain again. Other times, residue has been left in the carpet from a previous cleaning or from something that was applied to the carpet but never fully rinsed out (WD-40, home carpet cleaner products, etc.). Read more about stains that keep coming back and what to do about them here.

What can you do to help with odor control?

We have IICRC certifications in odor control and we keep our knowledge of the most recent odor control methods continually up to date. Whether this means helping to remove a musty smell, pet odors, or any other unattractive odor, we have a solution.

Do carpet protectors work? Should I apply them?

Carpet protectors, while not necessary, are definitely recommended. Carpet protectors, like Scotchgard or Maxim form a protective coating around the carpet fibers. This coating protects against stains and spills, making your carpet more resilient and easier to clean up. 

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Carpet Stretching and Repair Questions

Do you offer carpet stretching?

Yes, we provide expert carpet stretching services. Usually we can stretch and clean carpet on the same day, or as a stand alone service..Whether it’s a small wrinkle that needs to be removed, or if the whole room needs to be stretched, we can help.

What about carpet repairs?

We can repair most any carpet issue you may have with out professional carpet repair services. Whether you have a burn in the carpet, damage caused by a pet, splitting seams, carpet pulling away from the wall or most any other problem, we can help.

Can you stretch carpet without moving furniture?

Yes and no. Carpet stretching without moving furniture can sometimes be done but it depends on a lot of factors. How many pieces of furniture? How large is the furniture? How big is the room, and so on. Usually its best to give us a call or send in photos so we can get a better idea of your specific situation.

What causes carpet to buckle or develop ripples

There are a number of reasons carpet buckles or ripples can occur. It can occur due to improper installation, overwetting of the carpet during cleaning, high humidity, age or condition of the carpet, among other reasons. For a more detailed answer and what to do about it, read more about why carpet buckles or develops ripples.

What is the proper way to stretch carpet?

Properly tensioning carpet requires a power stretcher in all but the smallest areas. This tool applies the necessary leverage. Installing carpet with just a knee-kicker often leads to the carpeted area developing wrinkles or bubbles down the road.

Can you replace carpet padding, tack strips, or install new carpet?

Yes, we can tackle just about any carpet repair or stretching requirement you have. Everything from replacing tack strips to sealing subfloors to replacing an area (or full room) of padding or carpet and more. Due to transportation limitations, we typically do not install carpet through an entire house. With carpet cleaning equipment in our vans, we aren’t set up to transport the huge amount of carpet needed to do an install on a whole home, though we certainly have the skills to do the work.

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Upholstery Cleaning Questions

What method do you use to clean upholstery?

Our preferred method for upholstery cleaning is hot water extraction. This method is extremely effective for cleaning the vast majority of furniture. We use a special tool called a Drimaster. This tool does an amazing job of cleaning without over-wetting upholstery. Faster dry times and no streaking is the result.

What kind of upholstered items can you clean?

We clean just about everything. From sofas to armchairs, office chairs to ottomans, and everything in-between.

Can you get stains out of upholstery?

Just as with carpet cleaning, we can get most stains out of upholstery. We’ve cleaned makeup and bronzer off of a brand new white couch. We’ve removed chocolate and red wine from arm chairs, you name it. Upholstery tends to be more delicate than carpet, so there are certainly greater limits on what kinds of solutions and how high we can turn up the heat, but in general upholstery cleans up really well.

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Tile and Grout Cleaning

How do you clean tile and grout?

We clean tile and grout by pre-spraying a cleaning solution appropriate to the type of tile you have. From there, we agitate the tile with manual brushes or a counter rotating brush machine. Finally, we pressure wash the surface with a powerful rinse contained without a housing so as not to spray water everywhere.

Can you clean natural stone as well as ceramic tile?

Most natural stone tiles can be safely cleaned. Some, like Terrazo, we stay away from due to it’s delicate nature. Certain considerations must be made for natural stone since it can etch when acids are applied. With proper knowledge, these concerns can be easily mitigated.

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Commercial Carpet Cleaning

How often should commercial carpets be cleaned?

Commercial carpets cleaning frequency depends a lot on the facility being cleaned. High traffic restaurants should typically be cleaned monthly, while an office may require cleanings quarterly or semi-annually depending on traffic. Every situation is different and we can consult with you on what is best for your facility. For more information: recommended frequency for commercial carpet cleaning

How much does commercial carpet cleaning cost?

The answer to this question depends on many factors. To account for these factors, we bid commercial carpet cleaning onsite. We’ll measure with a laser, assess the condition of the carpet, identify obstacles that will increase or decrease the speed of the cleaning and so on. From there, we’ll provide a custom bid for your facility.

What kind of facilities do you provide commercial carpet cleaning for?

We clean commercial carpets of all kinds. Office carpet cleaning makes up a significant portion of the commercial work we do. Restaurant carpet cleaning and church carpet cleaning and carpet cleaning in retail spaces are also jobs we frequently perform.

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Carpet Cleaning Stain Guide

This section is a work in progress as we write articles addressing each type of stain and a solution you can apply to try and remove it. In the meantime, have a look at the existing articles we’ve written!

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Pet Odor and Stains Questions

How do you remove pet odor and stains from carpet?

This answer is another “it depends on the circumstance”. Basic pet urine carpet cleaning treatment from a small dog can often be treated with a special pre-spray and then by following our normal carpet cleaning process. Heavier staining may require flooding the area with a special solution and extracting with a flood extractor. In more extreme cases, we may even have to replace areas of padding and/or seal the subfloor.

Are cat urine and dog urine treated differently?

Cat urine is quite a bit more difficult to fully remove due to it’s pungent odor. Dog urine can normally be cleaned, but cat urine has a way of adhering to a carpet pad, adjacent walls, and baseboards that often requires more extreme measures to remove the odor. Often times to carpet pad needs to be replaced and the subfloor sealed with an odor blocking paint. Dog urine usually does not require these drastic measures.

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General Questions

What sets MSS Cleaning apart from competitors?

• We’re focused on creating an exceptional service experience for our customers.
• Our carpet cleaning process is the most through process you’ll find anywhere. This leads to cleaner, better looking carpets.
• Our technicians are well trained, well paid, and carefully vetted.
• We use technology to send appointment confirmations, scheduling updates and reminders, on-the-way messages and appointment follow ups to our customers. We also have fully-functional online scheduling options.
• We’re locally owned and operated. Our customers always have a channel to speak with someone knowledgeable, who cares.

What Areas Do We Service?

• Our service area reaches all across the Denver Metro area.
• Some of the larger areas we service include Littleton, Lakewood, Castle Rock, Castle Pines, and Highlands Ranch. 
• We also have smaller neighborhoods where we tend to spend a lot of time, like Stapleton, Park Hill, Cherry Creek and so on.
• If you’re within 30 minutes or so from Denver, we’re happy to travel to your location. If you have any questions, please see our service area map or give us a call at 720-233-0761.

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